Actor Close To Sebring Victory

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32253, 23 March 1970, Page 18

Actor Close To Sebring Victory

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SEBRING (Florida). The United States driver, Mario Andretti, on the verge of defeat when the gearbox in his car failed, took over another Ferrari and drove it to victory in the 12-hour Sebring endurance race last night.

The gearbox failed after he had held the lead for more than 10 hours. The 29-year-old American then took command of the car assigned to Ignazio Giunti and Nino Vac-

carella and improved from third place to beat the Porsche driven by the actor, Steve McQueen. Third place went to Masten Gregory, in an Alfa Romeo Spyder. McQueen drove with his left foot encased in a plaster cast. He broke his foot in six places two weeks ago while racing motor-cycles in Nevada and barely got approval from officials to partner Peter Revson, a millionaire socialite from New York, in the 12-hour event.

He passed such drivers as Belgium’s Jacky Ickx and Dan Gurney, of the United States, in the field of 68 cars. McQueen wore a cast up to his knee and was allowed to drive only after he agreed to wear a special boot and fireproof socks. He glued sandpaper to the bottom of his east to get traction on his clutch foot. McQueen and Revson alternated for 90 minute periods in the Porsche. After each run McQueen rode a motorcycle to a caravan parked just outside his pit area and soaked his aching foot. “I couldn’t take anything for the pain because the doctors are worried about infection,” he said after the race.

Car Hits Tree.— Graham John Woodley, of 45 Rutherford Street, Woolston, was admitted to the Princess Margaret Hospital suffering from head injuries after / a car hit a tree in Centaurus Road about 1.30 a.m. yesterday.

HAGLEY.— Bogey Senior: O. Foster, 6 up: R. L. Calvert, all square: A. di Rago, all square: B. McHugh, all square: J. Swinburne, all square. Intermediate: J. R. Smith, 2 up, on a count-back from W. Miller, 2 up. Junior: N. W. Herd, 2 up: R. Kilburn, 1 up; J. H. Robertson, 1 up.